Next month, the Town of Brownsburg Parks' Natural Resources team will conduct a prescribed burn at the Outdoor Classroom at Williams Park. The burn is in partnership with the Brownsburg Fire Territory and will be conducted as weather and site conditions allow.
The purpose of the prescribed burn is to help maintain and improve native prairie and woodland areas by adding nutrients back into the soil and stimulating native plant growth. Conducting a prescribed fire is essential for restoring native plant communities and wildlife habitats, managing invasive species, and reducing the risk of wildfires.
Fire can also increase wildflower diversity, which benefits butterflies, moths, and other pollinators, providing a variety of food sources throughout the growing season.
Spring brings cooler temperatures and precipitation, ideal for conducting prescribed fire operations. Each operation follows a specialized prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is regular and may continue for several days depending on the environmental conditions. However, prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and does not last as long as wildfire smoke.
Before the fire operations, nearby streets, and trails may be posted with signs indicating areas affected by the prescribed fire. Prescribed burn times may also be announced on Brownsburg Parks’ website, brownsburgparks.com.